Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx started this discussion 11 years ago#39,601
Sometimes we list our favourite video games, but what about developers? Do you have any all-time favourites? List a few, if you want. And they don't have to be ranked or anything.
This might be controversial, but I'd say my favourite developer of all time is BioWare. No other company makes games that immerse me into my character and the world quite as much, with plenty of interesting characters and deep worlds/lore. I've replayed their stuff a plenty of times, and probably will a few more times.
Another favourite would probably be Obsidian, who also make RPGs. Even though I've only played two of their games (Knights of the Old Republic 2 and Fallout New Vegas), I loved the writing in them. So much I replayed them both multiple times. They're also soon to release a new RPG called Pillars of Eternity, which looks extremely promising.
Of course, Bethesda is one. Nobody else makes a game world like them. Always enjoy their RPGs.
Lastly, Bungie would probably be a favourite. Even though I'm not as into Halo as I was, I'm still interested in its story, and I loved playing their games as a kid. Lots of nostalgia value.
Red faction 2!!!!!
The game where you fight Lance Henriksen with a fucking railgun
squeegee joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 57 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,033
Era when you knew developers by name and knew who designed their games
Sierra - they made Space Quest and Leisure Suit Larry and King's quest, all beloved games and set the stage for more modern RPG's. Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy are two of my favorite lead designers. they worked on space quest.
id - John Carmack and John Romero, they made wolfenstein 3d, doom and quake. they basically invented the FPS and had multiplayer deathmatches before that was even a thing. pretty much every FPS after doom has at least the same core gameplay. sure, maybe the FPS type game is a "natural" aesthetic that someone would have eventually stumbled on anyway, but these guys did it way ahead of any publisher and they did it out of an apartment.
Origin Systems - Chris Roberts made Wing Commander and Privateer (one of the first sandbox games. not the first, but it's up there.)
Era of faceless-souless corporations and not knowing the names of anyone but Hideo Kojima
Rockstar - because GTA and Red Dead Redemption are great fun. They know how to do violence well.
blizzard - because Warcraft, diablo and later WoW and then Star Craft 2 (those were the ones i played). say what you want about their games, but their backend netcode is the stuff of legends.
A new Era
Cloud Imperium Games - in an Era of low cost-high profit console ports, CIG is building the most expensive PC exclusive title ever in existence. Unable to secure private backing they developed a new business model and have raised 3 times more funding than they tried to get from publishers and that amount is increasing every day in rate. they have an absurdly successful funding campaign and are building the game i've been dreaming of playing since i was 8. I couldn't possibly be happier with this developer and the open nature of the project has me engaged directly with them in a way that no game developer has ever even tried before. Right now this is my favorite developer all the way from Ryan Church (a concept artist who worked on the New Star Wars movies) to Tony Zurovek (lead designer and worked on the Ultima series and Crusader in the 90's) to Chris Roberts the guy who is making everything happen and who personally hand coded one of my all time favorite games (wing commander.) definately my current favorite developer, and likely will be my favorite developer of all time. I mean, i liked all the games and game companies above, but i got a PM from Erin Roberts (who made fucking privateer) telling me i had a good suggestion and they fucking used it. so... the level of interaction they have with backers/fans is astounding and is something that other devs will emulate once they figure out how CIG managed their miraculous marketing campaign.
(Edited 8 minutes later.)
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 21 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,041
@previous (squeegee)
Id fuck yes. Doom 64 and Quake 3 my faves (though SNES Doom had the best music, made you wanna... well, shoot stuff.
I have Diablo 2 - what's a good character to start with?
And what game were you referring to at the end?
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,048
@previous (The cat)
i think in the old diablo games i went with a warrior? i don't actually recall the class system in that. it has one? i guess it did... well, it would have been the closest thing to a rogue, so if there's a thief or something i picked that. whatever seems roguish is what i would have gone with.
the game i was referring to at the end is This Game which i try not to speak of out of context of the conversation and try to keep conversation about it to a minimum. i can literally talk about this game non-stop, and so i have set restrictions on talking about it. Don't talk about it unless asked about it is the primary one. i know people get sick of hearing about things they aren't super interested in and so i try to keep a handle at least on the discussion if not my enthusiasm for discussion. i'll shut up now ;)
(Edited 1 minute later.)
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,049
@previous (squeegee)
I know you talk about it a lot, I'd just forgotten the name: Star Citizen? It DOES sound fucking badass
netscape joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 9 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,052
i got 2 words for ya
game
freak
e: those are the only
games i care about
(Edited 24 seconds later.)
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 15 seconds later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,053
@527,048 (squeegee)
I don't mind you talking about it, when I returned after like a year or whatever I read two months worth of your posts on that (my phone was being a dick and only letting me on here) am fucking hyped for that shit now
The cat double-posted this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,054
@527,052 (netscape)
Two more words: Ridge racer (especially the fourth one) damn Namco are good
netscape replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,055
> Two more words: Ridge racer (especially the fourth one) damn Namco are good
i guess namco is cool i liked katamari
and i love tekken etc but
my favorite is gamefreak
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,057
@527,049 (The cat)
uh yeah, it kinda does doesn't it :D
and this is actually related directly to the developer and why i like the so much,
this weekend they are at PAX south in San Antonio and they are doing a Town Hall event, it'll be 8 hours long this friday. They are breaking into 4 parts, 3 of which are the Town hall, and the 4th is a presentation. The event is exclusively for backers and the Town hall consists of hours long Q and A sessions with the designers (including the lead devs and CEO himself) who will also take and discuss ideas from backers at the event. so it's like 3 small State of the Game presentations for each major chunk of the game, and then brainstorming sessions with whoever wants to contribute. Then there will be an hour long presentation on the main stage by the CEO which will highlight this years roadmap and give us a look at what's to come.
Then there will be a party afterwards and a meet and greet with all the familiar faces, like Sandi Gardner, Ben Lesnik, Tony Zurovek, Chris Roberts, Mark Abent, Travis Day, Chelsea and Amanda from support, apparently the whole art and design team will be there. they are all like cult-celebrities because of the TV shows they make on a weekly basis. it's pretty fucking awesome. anyway, i'm going.
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 58 seconds later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,058
@527,055 (netscape)
I have PS2, and a semi-working PC - what games have gamefreak done?
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 50 seconds later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,059
@527,033 (squeegee) > the level of interaction they have with backers/fans is astounding and is something that other devs will emulate once they figure out how CIG managed their miraculous marketing campaign.
Yeah, it's great when a developer interacts so closely with their fans. But Cloud Imperium Games are not exactly the only ones doing it. The guys making the Warhammer 40K MMO, Behaviour Interactive, also did a good job of this. They went out and personally spoke to the 40K community across all the major 40K forums, answering questions about the game and giving out information (with the lead dev even showing up on 4chan's /tg/, a few times). I even had questions of my own answered by some devs, which was a novelty. They also developed their pre-order packages through community feedback, which was cool. And I believe they have also taken in player ideas as they've developed the game.
So yeah, as a result, devs like CIG and Behaviour develop a very loyal core fanbase. It's a mutually beneficial way to go about things, and something that I don't know if the older, more corporate companies will use themselves. Seems like it's more the tactic of these newer guys.
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 55 seconds later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,060
@527,057 (squeegee)
Well am jealous as fuck! Are the FPS sections done yet?
(Edited 2 minutes later.)
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 5 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,061
@527,059 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
yeah, and i likely have blinders on for this game because i really want it to be outstanding and so i try to not use a lot of hyperbole, but it slip in sometimes. you are right though, what CIG is doing is not entirely novel, but the sheer number of things they are combining is where i see them as being particularly innovative. combining crowdfunding with open-development is not new, but the sheer scale of what they have done has eclipsed everything crowdfunded by a lot. there IS something novel in what they are doing, and it's really resonating with fans more-so than it has with anything else like it. This is exactly why Chris Roberts is being asked to give talks all over the place and is being mentioned in all kinds of mainstream publications where other crowdfunded developers with open communities are not. there is something crazy going on and no one seems to exactly "get it", not really even the marketing people at CIG, they are just as shocked as everyone else. but whatever they are doing, they are doing it extremenly fucking well.
and i'll say this, if the game is half as good as their marketing campaign has been, it's going to be every bit as good as everyone hopes it will be.
squeegee double-posted this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,062
@527,060 (The cat)
they are not, but FPS is the next "module" to drop, we're thinking FPS will drop in or around March.
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,063
@previous (squeegee)
I love me some FPS - whole thing sounds like something I'd make if I had an unlimited budget and an attention span
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 11 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,066
@527,059 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
also, something worthy of note is that developers and publishers are two different entities. (i know you know this, just mentioning this) many times a publisher asks for a game to be release before it is truly complete, or developers are forced to cut a product down in order to hit a hard release schedule. publishers also can have quite a lot of influence over how a game is designed. This is what leads to great studios, like Treyarch or Infinity Ward back in the day making Call of Duty clones. sub par ones sometimes at that. so i do think developers that listen to fans over publishers will produce a better product. but, of course, the problem is that publishers have a bottom line and profits to think about where players only have the experience in mind. people would gladly wait longer to have a better end product but publishers want their investment to pay off instead, especially if a "better game" won't directly lead to more sales.
So, there are some fuck stick publishers out there and they have ruined the names of more than one good studio
(Edited 23 seconds later.)
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 5 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,067
@527,061 (squeegee)
Huh- this is a coincidence. I was just on Behaviour's website, looking at stuff on Eternal Crusade, and apparently they're helping CIG with art for Star Citizen.
The page I went to also mentioned that Star Citizen has made over $55 million. Bloody hell, man.
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 5 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,068
@previous (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
oh yeah, i didn't know that was the same behavior, but yeah, they are both working on a similar art system for clothing, a layering system that is super complex. i think CIG is maybe sharing some netcode with behavior in exchange for their bitching clothing system. it's going to be super.
And CIg has raised 69 million as of today. they are pulling in something like a couple of million a month or more now. and the per month rate is growing, so each month is better than the last. People called critical mass at 25, 50, and now 75. i'm thinking there is no fucking telling how much the game will pull in before a proper launch. it's just going up and up and up.
mostly because they are partnered with Behavior and basically own Cryengine now. they have most of their devs now at least and own rights to their own branch of the engine. i mean among other things, like the world class concept artists and game designers, not to mention the other studios they are partnered with. the hype is fucking real, yo.
(Edited 1 minute later.)
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,069
@527,066 (squeegee)
I hear that, meddling publishers trying to standardise and/or rush everything has impacted a lot of the bigger developers.
But then, that's where the indies and guys like CIG come in, right? They've got the freedom to risk doing new and unconventional things (like Minecraft or Star Citizen), and that can pay off massively.
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 5 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,073
@previous (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
yup, and i'd have included mojang on my list but i think they kinda dropped the ball a bit.
minecraft could've been so much more, but notch was pretty disinterested pretty fast.
funny thing too, minecraft was the only thing he did he'll be remembered for. his other games will never be a minecraft, he happened across a super successful combination of game mechanics that would've been done in some way by someone eventually. and he totally let it go... and yeah, i've seen some clones and they suck, he did do minecraft well, but, he could've done it so much better by simply adding competent AI and adding a few features.
but no. scrolls. and that other stupider one whatever it was called.
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 24 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,076
@previous (squeegee)
Eh, I think he came out and said that at some point the fame was making him miserable. Well, not the fame itself, but all of the bad stuff that comes with it. The internet haters and all that. He even actually came off of the development at one point and handed it over to some other Mojang guy anyway. Better outcome than a unenthusiastic guy working on it, I think.
As for Minecraft, I'd argue that it has done well enough despite any missed improvements. It did and I think still has taken over the Let's Play scene, and is more mainstream than many AAA games. The bookshop I go to is selling foam Minecrafts swords, even (to tie in with their books about Minecraft).
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx (OP) double-posted this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,077
You know who I'd like to post in this thread? ShitArse. He's always being so... proud of his taste in games, I'd like to see what he personally considers to be the best developers.
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 41 minutes later, 6 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,079
Ain't done with my list yet:
Sega: Streets of rage 2, 1 and 3 in that order, outrun 2006
Bullfrog: I worked there, by "worked" I mean purposefully left a bug in (was better that way) and played Quake 3 rather than what I was supposed to be doing. Also free booze and pizza
The cat double-posted this 11 years ago, 4 minutes later, 6 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,081
Whoever made ff4, 6 and 7 - X and X2 are almost as good
Kimmo Alm: He actually made some games, I not played them but I hear one is extremely racist lol well doubt they're any good but he's made more games than me (one, unfinished)
The cat triple-posted this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 6 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,082
Psygnosis: Fuckin' Wipeout 2097 and Wipeout 64 were perfection, Wipeout 3 felt... odd. Wipeout Fusion is retarded
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 6 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,083
@527,081 (The cat) > I hear one is extremely racist lol
Yep. You play as a sniper and have to shoot at brown people who are trying to cross the border.
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 7 minutes later, 6 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,084
Whoever was making Mortal Kombat up til Armageddon: I liked them anyways
Rare: hahahahaha no I kid - Goldeneye was awful for deathmatches, especially compared to Quake and Quake 2 on the sane system. Killer instinct and Donkey Kong country are awesome... yeah Rare are ok I guess
Team 17: Alien Breed 3D and it's sequel are the shit
The cat double-posted this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 6 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,085
@527,083 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
LOL, there is an audience for that kinda game though. We should make one, but the ending is that the player gets buggered by blacks, Asians and Jews while being made to squeal like a pig
The cat triple-posted this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 6 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,086
@previous (The cat)
And the credits are all Jewish names - right at the very end it displays the message "Thanks for the money, you sad white twat" - then it outs them as a racist on facebook lol
The cat quadruple-posted this 11 years ago, 17 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,088
Capcom again because this happened: I was playing Street Fighter 2 as Guile, spanning the sonic boom and my father says "Is he saying... phallic poo?" Which is what I say now if I accidentally pick Guile (he's not my fave). Also my fathers issue with the game was "real boxers don't throw fireballs" because he has no imagination
!OhBrie5EHg joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later, 8 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,115
> Favourite video game developers.
> Everyone answers with Studios
> 2016
The cat replied with this 11 years ago, 56 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,143
@previous (!OhBrie5EHg)
Dude I lost my Skype meaning I have lost yours too :(
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 8 hours later, 17 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,268
@527,115 (!OhBrie5EHg)
Wrong. It can can also refer to studios.
> I have PS2, and a semi-working PC - what games have gamefreak done?
Lucky for you they
Have really only
Done Nintendo
Games
!OhBrie5EHg replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later, 23 hours after the original post[^][v]#527,371
@527,268 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
A developer is one person. I didn't click your link, but you probably are trying to convince me that a DEVELOPMENT STUDIO counts as a singular developer...
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 56 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#527,387
@previous (!OhBrie5EHg)
Oh fuck, this is the fucking booty call situation all over again, isn't it?
I will nip this right in the fucking bud- Wikipedia says that it can refer to individuals and companies, you are on the wrong side of this.
!OhBrie5EHg replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#527,388